A CHARITY football match is being held in memory of a devoted mum whose life was cut short by an evil killer.

Mum-of-three Tina Cantello was murdered by Geoffrey Hutton, 38, of Derby Close, Basildon, in June of this year.

In a bid to honour her memory and all the amazing things she did in her life, and move the focus from the horror of her death, her son’s football club are hosting a charity football match to support a cause close to the family’s heart.

Max Cantello has played for Basildon United’s youth team for two years and before that played for the Berry Boys for four years before that and organiser Paul Stringer said Tina was the “most dedicated mum” around.

Paul, who is the manager of the under 18 team and vice chairman of the club’s youth section said: “Obviously it’s absolutely awful what’s happened. I knew Tina for a while but we were close in the last two years when her son came to play for us.

“When it first happened, we spoke about doing something but then it felt better to wait for the court case and everything to be finished. Her family are fully supportive of the idea and we hope to raise a lot of money in her memory.

“The big thing to me is that she was a huge fan. She never missed a game, she was always the first parent there watching the matches with her chair every Sunday.

“The last game she went to, we played a cup final at Roots Hall in Southend which we won - and it happened to be her birthday so that was amazing. We all went and celebrated afterwards at the pub.”

The match will take place on December 23, at 1pm at the Ho Ho Stadium in Basildon with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

It will see Max’s current team Basildon United U18 take on his former team, the Berry Boys.

Paul added: “Max was with the Berry Boys for four years and I know Tina had the same dedication then - I think she did bits of admin for them and everything so it’s a great thing for these teams to come together and they have been very supportive as well.”

This is the second charity fundraiser to take place in Tina’s memory. Just weeks after her death, friends and family took part in a memory walk through Basildon and raised an incredible £7,000 also for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Paul added: “The fact the community is coming together to remember Tina in a positive way and ensure her legacy lives on - I think that’s what’s helping to keep her family going.” Tickets for the match are £5 for adults or £2 for children. Visit basildonunited.co.uk